Boot and shoe cleaner.



E. M. RICH.

v BOOT AND anon CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908..

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MMEEEEW EARL M. RICH, OF GLIDDEN, IOWA.

BOOT AND SHOE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed March 7:, 1908. Serial No. 419,697.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL M. RICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glidden, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot and Shoe Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvei'nents in boot and shoe cleaners.

The object sought by this invention is to provide a simple and compact structure which may be placed on the floor or other support and will not slip thereon when in use and which when the shoe is drawn through the same will quickly, thoroughly, and simultaneously remove any mud or other dirt that may cling to the bottom and sides of the shoe.

Other objects and advantages will be made fully apparent from the following specifica tion, considered in connection with the ac companying drawings, in which Figure l. is a side elevation of the device embodying the invention. Fig. II. is a top plan view of the device. sents a transverse section taken along lines (l7-0. Fig. IV. is a fragmentary detail bottom view of a portion of the base showing particularly the means for laterally adjusting the brushes.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

In carrying out the invention, as-shown, the base frame comprises two sections desig nated by l and formed preferably of metal. These sections are substantially oval in shape and are suitably connected with similar metal pieces 2, as clearly exhibited in Fig. II. of the drawing. Interposed between said metallic sections both medially and on each side of the frame is a strip of yieldable material, such. for instance rub-- her or elastic fabric 3. The advantages of this construction and arrangement will appear obvious for when the device is located on the floor, pavement or similar support, there will be no liability of the same slipping. A still further advantage to be noted is that the terminals of the oval shape members may be utilized as scraping mediums.

The sections 2 each formed of a single piece of metal are bent at right angles so as to conform to the curvature of the outer sections 1 and secured a suitable distance apart to receive and effectually support the vertically disposed brush 4. The strips 1 Fig. III. reprehave their ends bent in the form ofa yoke as set forth in Fig. IV. of the accompanying drawing and secured to the section 2 and the outer sides of the sections 1 by means of rivets as at 5. Spanning and securely connected with the yoke portions of strip 1 is the right-angular] y bent plate 6 which serves as a support for the brushes 7, the component parts and construction of which will now be explained. On the upper portion of the piece 6 there is provided a pair of elongated slots one adjacent to each end thereof and being adapted to engage the feet 9 of the spring hinge 10. These elongated slots 8 serve to permit a longitudinal adjustment of the brushes 7 which are suitably connected to the feet 11 of the spring hinge through the medium of plate 12 and screw-nut 14, the latter projecting through the elongated slots 13 of the plate and being secured to the brush. Thus it will be observed that the brushes 7 are capable of being adjusted both longitudinally and Vertically with respect to the frame portion.

In use, the device is simply placed upon the floor or other support and one foot serves to hold the same firmly while the other is reciprocated between the three brushes. The heavier or larger portions of the dirt which may adhere to the bottom of the sole and heel are first removed by a forward and backward movement of the foot over the curved scraping portions of the metallic base section. if a single passage or movement of the foot over the device will not sufficiently clean the same, it may be repeated once or twice so that all dirt or mud which i'nay cling to the sole or heel may be readily and thoroughly removed. As here iii-before stated any slipping movement of the device is entirely precluded, and at the same time the wear and tear on the brushes may be (tOll'lpQllSEll'QCl for by an adjustment of the same either in a longitudinal or vertical direction.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction. operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in size, shape, proportions. and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. In a boot and shoe cleaner, the combination of a non-slidable frame, a pair of right-angularly bent supports secured to said fran'ie, the upper portion of each support being provided 'with elongated slots and having lnol'lnted thereon a laterally adjustable spring; hinge, a plate fastened to the other portion of said hinge and having a plurality of slots therein, a pair of horizontally disposed brushes, bolts carried by said brushes and extending through the slots in said plate and a vertically disposed brush secured to the frame below and inedially of said pair of brushes.

2. In a boot and shoe cleaner. the combination of a stationary brush, a pair of laterally and vertically adjustable brushes, and a frame for supporting said brushes, comprising a plurality of metallic strips, elastic strips interposed between said metallic strips and extending vertically beyond the top and bottom thereof, the upper portions of said elastic strips serving as a scraper, and the lower portion being adapted to pre- -vent the frame from sliding.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

EARL M. RICH. Witnesses J. G. QUINN,

.TENNTE Rosa 

